BRIDGE

Today's hand was brilliantly handled by the perennial star of the England Women's team, Nicola Smith, in the match against Austria at the 2002 European Championships.

Playing a 14-16 1NT, Nicola, South, was constrained to open One Club. West overcalled with Two Spades and North, Heather Dhondy, doubled, showing values. South's 2NT rebid was raised to Three No- Trumps.

West led a low spade to the queen, and at first sight there does not seem too much straw with which to make bricks. Declarer played off the ace and king of hearts, and when the queen fell from West, the distribution of that suit was apparent. Now came a club to the king and a low diamond to the queen, which held.

Nicola could now count eight tricks, so she continued with a low diamond, ducked to East's nine. When East returned the jack of diamonds, on which West shed a spade, the hand was an open book to declarer. East was known to have started with four hearts and four diamonds, and both from the bidding and East's failure to return a spade, her shape was revealed as 1-4-4-4.

Nicola won the diamond return with the ace, cashed the ace of clubs, then exited with a third club, secure in the knowledge that whichever opponent won the trick would be endplayed.

If East, after cashing a club and a diamond, she would have to lead a heart into dummy's tenace. And if West, as happened, she could cash the ace and king of spades, but would then have to lead to declarer's jack.

Love all; dealer East

North

4 4 3

! J 8 6 2

# A 10 5 3

2 A K 6

West East

4 A K 9 8 5 2 4 10

! Q 10 ! 9 7 5 3

# 6 4 # K J 9 8

2 Q 4 2 2 J 8 7 5

South

4 Q J 7 6

! A K 4

# Q 7 2

2 10 9 3

Copyright 2002 Independent Newspapers UK Limited
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